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HOUSING
Of the 83 houses recommended for slum clearance in the provisional programme for the
years 1955 to i960, the majority are now either demolished or under sentence of demolition
as soon as all occupying families have been housed.
Properties already dealt with on the list submitted to the Ministry of Health are:—
Numbers 1 and 2, Bells Cottages, and 1 to 6, Pluckington Place
Numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, Killarney Cottages Demolished 12
Numbers 5 to 18, Featherstone Terrace Awaiting demolition 14
Numbers 6 to 16, Spencer Street Demolished
Numbers 2 to 4 and 18 to 28, Spencer Street Awaiting demolition 14
Dagmar Cottage Allowed to remain provided
no human habitation
Numbers 9 to 15, The Crescent Awaiting demolition 15
One cottage was brought up to suitable standard by the owner and is still inhabited.
Certificates of Disrepair
During the year 60 applications have been received, of which 17 were granted. There
was also one application for Certificate or Revocation which was granted.
Overcrowding
The number of persons asking for assistance in obtaining housing on grounds of overcrowding
was as high as in 1956, but the number confirmed on inspection as being statutorily
overcrowded was lower, and the number remaining on the Department register of overcrowded
families was reduced from 79 in 1956 to 56 in 1957.
Rehousing of Applicants for Council Dwellings
Council Housing within the Borough
Total number of families obtaining Council accommodation for the first time in 1957:
57 families, including 16 from Slum Clearance Areas.
New Town Housing
The total number of families removing to New or Expanded Towns: 25 families
nominated under the Industrial Selection Scheme up to April, 1956, since when
the Council has had to pay subsidy for every family moving from this Borough to
New or Expanded Towns. The total number of families who have moved to
New or Expanded Towns since that date is a further 133.
Houses Let in Lodgings
Towards the end of 1954 several houses were purchased and occupied as lodging houses
by male coloured immigrants, the usual arrangement being for a number of beds to be placed
in each room and all the occupants of the house to share a communal kitchen.
The Council were concerned about conditions generally and the excessive number of
men accommodated in these houses, and decided to apply the provisions of Section 12 of
the Housing Repairs and Rents Act, 1954.
A permitted number, based on floor area, was fixed for each room regarded as suitable
for sleeping accommodation and formal notice of these standards served on the person
having control of the house. These notices have been accepted and the conditions observed
by the persons concerned and have proved a useful means of control.
The number of houses owned by coloured immigrants and occupied by them as lodging
houses had reached a figure of 48 by the end of 1957. Control by the application of Section
90 of the Housing Act, 1957, is continued.
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